Maria Montessori Academy
Distant Learning during Soft Closure- COVID-19
Support Staff during Distant Learning COVID-19
Interim Director- Mike Geilmann
- Continuous discussion with Academica West and other directors in regards to distant learning.
- Planning and navigating the schools best interest during distant learning.
- Support staff and families.
- Keeping the school running with an upbeat attitude and perspective.
- mgeilmann@mariamontessoriacademy.org
Instructional Coach- Nicoletta Householder
- Collect resources for distant learning.
- Collaborate with Montessori Schools both public and private schools for distant learning.
- Offer guidelines and feedback for teachers and distant learning.
- Distribute the distant learning plans to families.
- Communicate with parents in regards to concerns for their child's learning in support of the lead teacher.
- nhouseholder@mariamontessoriacademy.org
Office- Autumn Douglas and Amanda Carroll
- Office Hours: Monday- Friday 9-11 and 3-5
- Support with packet pick up and student belongings.
- Answer questions and support families.
- Updating social media and newsletters to families with current information.
- adouglas@mariamontessoriacademy.org
- acarrell@mariamontessoriacademy.org
Reading Specialist
Guidance Counselor
- Offering support via zoom meetings, phone calls, google hangouts and google classroom for all ages of Early Childhood through 9th grade.
- Small groups and class meetings.
- Individualized packets for students depending on the need.
- One on one support with family permission.
- Continuing HOPE Squad- virtually
- aeggett@mariamontessoriacademy.org
Computer Specialist
- Monitoring the checks and balances of our online platforms.
- Supporting staff and parents with technological questions.
- Problem solving online issues and helping to find strategies to benefit all stakeholders during distant learning.
- amazur@mariamontessoriacademy.org
Learning Objectives
Words from Coaches of NCMPS (National Center Montessori Public Sector)-
Letty Rising and Elizabeth Slade | Trilliummontessori.org
Excerpt from- This article may be distributed for educational purposes
Without warning, children across the country have experienced a dramatic shift in how they
participate in daily learning. In addition, children who relied on social service connections and
food service programs provided at school were suddenly without these essential resources.
Educators have put their heads together to experiment with practices that many have come to
identify as distance learning, becoming pioneers in this unfamiliar way of teaching and learning.
Montessori educators have had the added complexity of holding the method intact while also
creating a program manageable for children and families.
This was the primary focus at the outset of school closures as Coronavirus swept the nation.
Montessori educators and families made heroic efforts to create and institute a new way of
being for children that would hold them in a routine. Administrators rallied, teachers spent
countless hours preparing, families learned new technology skills and reorganized to
accomodate what teachers were suggesting. It was a valiant team effort to lift something so
unknown in such a short amount of time.
Plan- Do- Check- Action
- Plan-Collaborate with team and develop the distant learning plans and instruction two weeks at a time.
- Do- Build hard copy packets and online lessons for classrooms. Provide the times for scheduled lessons to parents and find alternative ways for students without online access.
- Check-Check in with students during lessons and weekly check in with families
- Action- Assess each week during virtual PLC's with teams and make adjustments necessary, continue the cycle of distant learning. Continue the new founded education of distant learning for Maria Montessori Academy
Observing informal data
- Student Learning- Teachers contacted families to identify the best learning methods for their children during distant learning in regards to packets, online platform and how to be available for one on one, small group or large group learning.
- Family Dynamics- Assessing and being mindful to each family and the different dynamics during this time.
- Process- Continue to maintain the goal making sure that our students are safe, healthy and that learning is taking place (this will look different for each student, each family).
COLLABORATION
Collaboration
- Administration
- Teachers
- Staff
- Students
- Stakeholders
"If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together." -African Proverb
Levels of Learning- ACTION PLANS
Early Childhood (ages 3-Kinder)
Daily Zoom meetings with Heggerty lessons, language and math lessons and class meetings. Online videos of the lead teachers giving the small and large group lessons of cultural (Asia) topics: zoology, botany, geography and history.
Lower Elementary (1st- 3rd grade)
http://blogs.mariamontessoriacademy.org/lowerel/. Here you will find the main digital resources we are utilizing as a team to monitor your child’s work and progress. The main ones we will monitor are Imagine Learning Reading and Math, Reading Horizons, and Khan Academy.
Upper Elementary (4th-6th grade)
We will continue using Google Classroom, as well as other online learning resources such as IXL and Utah Compose. We recognize that not all students have consistent access to a computer or the internet. For that reason, we are also making paper packets for every student. We have found that a combination of paper and digital resources has worked best for most families.
Junior High (7th- 9th grade)
- Assignments given on Mondays, due dates on Sunday.
- Students working in packets may turn their completed work on Fridays at the
- same allotted time or the following Monday when you pick up your packets.
- We will hold Zoom meetings as needed to be handled by subject:
- Monday-ELA
- Tuesday-Science
- Wednesday-Math
- Thursday-Social Studies
- Friday-Specials (PE, Art, Yearbook, Health, Choir, Theatre)
Platform: CANVAS- google hangouts, ZOOM, teachers youtube channels.
Dore Elmer https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCM53sNHiTsa_Ljdo4Z8DQtQ
Craig Free https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCC_7mYTW5zzc8ZUepThXLTw
Taylor Monsen https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8zaKjZnYyS-9SsOA0QmjiQ
Specialists- Art, Music, PE
Special Education
Individualized services will be provided through distance learning.
Continuous Communication
- MMM (Maria Montessori Moments- Parent Newsletter) Leveled (EC, LE, UE, JH, Special Ed) letters with the plan and expectation for the families (every two weeks). The newsletter is offering continuous resources for families: family fun, websites, support groups, how to make materials and strategies for all learners.
- Nuts and Bolts (Staff Newsletter)- Continuous updates, tools, resources and strategies to help support teachers and staff. Shout Outs from parents and community members.
- PLCs - Levels are continuing to meet each week and provide notes to support staff so we can continue to support each level and each teacher.
- Staff Meetings- Staff meetings are being held weekly via ZOOM to continue collaboration, check ins, community building and updates.
- Stakeholders- Email and phone are available to address administration, support staff, office and teachers of concerns, questions and celebrations.
Check- Ins
Check-ins are instrumental in monitoring the progress for each student and family during this time as well as identifying the different needs for each student. Recognizing each students progress is going to look different.
The goal is to identify what is working and what is not during this time that we are all learning. Identifying what is impacting student learning and achievement and to make adjustments as necessary.
- Using Protocols and Tools- Helps teams break into smaller groups to reflect and discuss the action steps that are occurring within this time period. Items shared include what progress has been made and artifacts, what is working, persons responsible, barriers to overcome, and next steps.
- Instructional Coach Meetings- Meetings with coach on an individual basis of teacher needs and support.
- Provide Feedback- Administration and/or leadership team provide feedback in regards to reflections from parents, students and staff. Always reflecting on the purpose and goal of what we are essentially trying to achieve.
- Teachers are also doing their part of feedback via online platform, email or by phone.
Monitoring
Reset the plan:
- Planning- What resources are needed for implementation? What online platforms are out there? How do we shift Montessori hands on learning to distant learning at home? What short term progress targets need to be closely monitored to ensure we stay on track? How will we communicate our plan?
- Implementation- How will we know that it is being implemented? What barriers have impeded your process? How will we address those barriers within our plan?
- Monitoring- Who will monitor implementation? How is this communicated to Administration and Support Staff?
Resources
Instructional Coach- NEW Resources
ALLIANCE REDWOODS- This is the campus our 6th graders normally go to each spring for their MILESTONE field trip, out of state.
- Our campus has been temporarily repurposed to house and serve the homeless in our community: https://www.pressdemocrat.com/news/10892356-181/alliance-redwoods-hosting-redwood-gospel
- During this time, our naturalists have been creating free educational content you may find useful:
https://www.facebook.com/pg/AllianceRedwoodsOutdoorEducation/posts/
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcq1HHtNaQBvOScaVeW2U9Q
https://naturalists8.wixsite.com/materials
AEE- Association for Experiential Education
https://aee.memberclicks.net/community-resource-library- TOOLS FOR TEACHING & LEARNING ONLINE
- MENTAL HEALTH TIPS & SUPPORT
- ACTIVITIES FOR MY FAMILY
- FUN AND PRODUCTIVE IDEAS FOR ME
- GENERAL HEALTH & SAFETY INFORMATION
- TIPS FOR SAFELY ENJOYING THE OUTDOORS
RESILIENCE
The parent guide to resilience on the why try website is free for families at this time.
Coronavirus: A Book for Children
Coronavirus: A Book for Children
- a free digital download
Why Are Some Kids Thriving Kids- observations to bring back for next year
Why Are Some Kids Thriving During Remote Learning?
https://www.edutopia.org/article/why-are-some-kids-thriving-during-remote-learning
Montessori at Home- PPT
Montessori Materials and Resources
Resources:
Additional Resources for Self-Care and Support
- 5 Things About Staying Mentally Healthy––by Joshua A. Gordon, M.D., Ph.D., and Director of the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), the lead federal agency for research on mental disorders.
- Coping with Sheltering at Home during COVID-19––additional strategies from the American Red Cross.
Click on the link above for continually updated resources and support for online learning due to school closings and staying informed amidst the COVID-19 outbreak.
- https://www.mobilemontessori.org/
- https://montessori.tools/
- https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#inbox/FMfcgxwHMZPjNBlXCcHWdSfnQKRTXKTr?projector=1&messagePartId=0.1
"Distance Learning in Times of Disaster"
- Letty Rising & Elizabeth Slade
Association Montessori Internationale
- Free Digital Educational Resources
- Minnesota Executive Function Scale (MEFS)
- - FREE version is now available to teachers: EFgo™
- - Home-based guide for parents that includes 20 games and activities parents can use to help support executive function development. You can see a free sample activity here.
- Educating All Learners Alliance
- A resource library of curated tools, strategies, tips and best practices for supporting students with disabilities online with the goal of curating and creating special education services who learn differently.
- National Center for Montessori in the Public Sector
- School Closure Resources'
Distance Learning Resources
Home Connection
- Weekly Check-In. As everyone gets in the groove, it’s important to know how things are going. Use this weekly check-in survey to stay connected to your students and their parents/guardians.
Social-Emotional Focus
- SEL Discussion Guides (K-5). Use these printable guides to help set digital learning norms and keep communication flowing.
Literacy Corner
- Writing Cubes. Students assemble these fun cubes to help them choose the main character, setting, and genre of their fictional stories.
- Handwriting Practice Pages.
Print - Short word practice.
Beginning Cursive - Learn the strokes before letter formation.
Primary Writing Paper - Free picture and writing paper.
Digital Fun
- A-Z Scavenger Hunt (K-1). Have students search their homes for items that begin with each letter of the alphabet. They can share a written list or take images to share with the class. Other options include focusing on a single letter sound or rhyming words.
- Talk Show Host (2-3). Start each virtual class session with a guest student host! They can kick off the meeting sharing neat things around their home or asking questions of their classmates.
- Book Commercial (4-5). Ask students to share what they are reading at home by recording a commercial that either convinces others to read it . . . or avoid it!
Quick Prompts
- Let’s Make Art! (K-1). Think about your favorite animal. Think about where it lives. Paint or color its picture on a sheet of paper. Write a few sentences describing where it lives.
- Read for Meaning! (1-2). Read a short story. On four note cards or pieces of paper, draw a picture of four events in the story. Write a sentence on the back telling the event. Label the cards 1, 2, 3, and 4 to sequence the events.
- Let’s Write! (3-5). Write a song about a place you love to visit. First, list some words describing the place. List some rhyming words. Choose vivid nouns and adjectives for your song.
- Words to Know! (3-5). Use a book, website, or magazines to find five unfamiliar words and write the words in a list. Use context clues to determine word meanings. Check definitions in the dictionary. Write a sentence for each word.
Writing strategies for all learners from age EC- JH from Ms. Nicoletta:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1OBc6OISSesZEHMs9_1Xwl-IY7DO7RrUA/view?usp=sharing
Creating Montessori Materials:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1XNVc3Gql6AzDK_-15ltD6mmtWROg_9Sq/view?usp=sharing (fraction circles/ bars)
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1PerOpjEB86itT7WE_ITCg0AY0xC3HxMd/view?usp=sharing(fraction circles)
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1FVYTAU-tVFg7ZciSZVyGYOb4MYk3nyi2/view?usp=sharing (checkerboard)
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1o-onNmSigMQQbJZ4s68fTYS4g2vzhV68/view?usp=sharing (bead frame)
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1fV-PtWm0R0rshwZXD_aG6Y2g6YVilPJT/view?usp=sharing (snake game)
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1_kfZNnqq-AvcGlF09aZFbrRFm_lVO0Tx/view?usp=sharing
(stamp game numbers)
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ZkUdiFGxd-xp8IMNGQBEuR-MNRtWXK_Y/view?usp=sharing
(stamp game)
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1_heG57v2DUMTg8aFjCT48eSfk7T3-nhU/view?usp=sharing
(small bead)
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1_jece6ACQax6NR33cdCmDS1Icy3dsU8s/view?usp=sharing
(division board)
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ZpyyCaLuJZZFs1o28HjQaStTM08Kz8cw/view?usp=sharing
(checkerboard)
Family and Home FREE ACTIVITIES beyond Distance Learning
Math Card Games- Building Fluency and Math Facts
https://www.weareteachers.com/math-card-games/
Clark Planetarium: https://slco.org/clark-planetarium/
Indoor Activities
https://www.thebestideasforkids.com/indoor-activities-for-kids/
Crafts
https://www.smartschoolhouse.com/diy-crafts/glow-in-the-dark-easter-egg-hunt
Fluency and Fitness Activities
https://fluencyandfitness.com/register/school-closures/
Free Educational websites
https://fromabcstoacts.com/45-free-educational-websites-for-kids/
Growing Books
https://growingbookbybook.com/online-literacy-resources/
Music
https://learnincolor.com/20-apps-to-teach-music-apps.html
Educational Shows (Netflix)
https://homeschoolhideout.com/educational-shows-on-netflix/
https://kidsactivitiesblog.com/135609/list-of-education-companies-offering-free-subscriptions/
Doodle
https://www.washingtonian.com/2020/03/16/mo-willems-is-hosting-a-livestream-doodle-starting-today/
Virtual Field Trips
https://docs.google.com/document/u/0/d/1SvIdgTx9djKO6SjyvPDsoGlkgE3iExmi3qh2KRRku_w/mobilebasic
Virtual Museum Tours
https://www.travelandleisure.com/attractions/museums-galleries/museums-with-virtual-tours
More Music
Ideas for Home
EVENTS
American Montessori Society
We are all experiencing a trauma right now, including our students. AMS' 3-part series, "Trauma & Stress" will illuminate different types of trauma that can be present and the physical, cognitive, and social-emotional effects. You will become familiar with the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) survey and their implications. Come away understanding common triggers of challenging student behavior experience and how they affect a student’s learning.
JOY
Video: Successfully building the Pink Tower for the first time
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Squirrels! FOLLOW the Child
Follow the best needs for your child and yourself to get the most positive outcome.
If a child needs a break- it does not mean its all over. Mind shift- turn it into life lessons: cooking, baking, walking the dog, dishes, sweeping, mopping, vacuuming, folding laundry, painting, drawing, playing cards or a board game- responsibility embedded in the structure of the day while being productive.
Thank you guys for all you do and the updates. We have appreciated you and the school.
The upper el team is killing it with their packets. Everything is so neatly organized in the yellow folder. I so appreciate this and the check list that came with it this week. The google classroom is amazing too. I appreciate their creative efforts in getting this put together and keeping it running so smoothly. It’s been a struggle for me working from home and educating my kids at the same time, but the upper el team has really gone above and beyond to make this easy for parents.
I like the way Jr. High adapted their work as well so we can keep up with who is zooming when. Everyone has really stepped up their game this week.
Thanks for the support everyone!
-The Monsen Fam
I am so thankful for the individual thought that you have put into considering each of our children and what their needs are during this time of unexpected transition and adjustment for all. I know that you can only do this because you know each of your students as individuals. Thank you also for being so available and open to communication so I can be on the same page as to how we can best help our son to feel good, keep learning and working toward his continued education and goals while balancing our work and other family needs.